Hand Quilting on GFG Runner Finished

Here is a sneak peek at my Grandmother's Flower Garden runner. At the bottom of the picture is the fabric I'm using for binding. All that I lack for completion of this besides washing and drying (and praying those 80-year-old stains come out) is to hand sew the binding to the back. I wanted to capture a close-up of the hand quilting in the half-circlish edges that had to piecing. See this post for the original picture. I ended up trimming off beyond 1" from the outermost blue hexagons and tapering the end. Hope to have a completely finished picture soon.

~Joan

Apple Core Quilt Update

Here is my apple core quilt, Seeds of Kindness. I've had people ask how it's coming along. It was started a couple years ago. I don't have as much time to hand cut and piece as I did when I started it. That's why the progress is languishing. This measures about 50" x 60" now. I am going to add three more rows and call it quits. Click on the label "seeds of kindness" below this post to bring up all the past posts on it. Amen.

~Joan

Two More Spool Rows Added

Well, you probably are not surprised, but I wanted to see how Sam's blocks would work with mine so much that I added a row...isn't the picture taken on the diagonal interesting??

If one row looks good, two will look twice as good, right? So I added row #2 for tonight. I am expecting another three sets of 25, so I am definitely going to have to wait until they arrive before adding any more rows.

Notice the difference in the two pictures...the spool blocks are smaller in pic #2 because there is one more row in the same visual space. I really enjoy seeing all the different fabrics in scrap quilts. I don't think I'll ever make a 3-fabric quilt.


It's official though...this is now my favorite quilt. Surprise, surprise!!

Good night!

~Joan

Later Alligator??

This past Friday and Saturday, I got to attend an amazing creation seminar. Above is my son Isaac (in the stripes), Dan the Animal Man (in the safari shirt), our friend Jacob behind Isaac (away from the business end of the alligator), and Auggie the alligator in the teeth!! The awesomeness of God's creation was magnified, and God was glorified. We also got to see an African porcupine. Guess what her name was?

BARB!! Get it?? I did!! In fact, I laughed loud and long way before anyone else. The speaker was kind enough to point it out, too.

Barb's head is to the right in the picture. Dan was wearing leather gloves that went up to the top of his arm. Barb weighed about fifty pounds. I learned so much about God's design and wonder while we were there. Amazing stuff! An awesome God!!


Here is Elisabeth trying to pet a tarantula. I was glad I was only taking pictures!!



Elisabeth!! There is an alligator behind you!! Here's what she did next...



Elisabeth is so photogenic!! Notice the Bible in front of Auggie. Dan quoted it early and often.



Ta ta for now...


~Joan

Ziploc of Joy!

Besides $100 bills, what is the best thing that someone could mail YOU in a Ziploc baggie?? My answer arrived yesterday. Unbeknownst to me, Sam sent me the spool blocks we are exchanging. I must point out that she did not play fair. We were supposed to have them ready at the end of the month. So now I am behind!!

What a lovely group of blocks! They will play nicely with my Thimbleberries blocks.

Now I have to exercise patience until I receive the rest of my swaps. Calgon, take me away!! Here's my favorite from the group...brown and pink.

Thanks so much, Sam. You made my day...week...month!!

~Joan, who got to touch a live alligator today...pictures to come

Spool Quilt Block Swappers? Anyone? Hello?

Tap, tap...is this thing on??

In case you haven't heard, I am making a spool quilt. Perfect quilt for a piecer/quilter. If you are interested in swapping a set of 25 blocks with me, please let me know. I plan to have mine finished within the week. (cue soundtrack of hilarious, maniacal laughter).

I have two e-friends that I am swapping with, but I'd love to swap with more. Anything goes in this quilt (well, except very bright or novelty prints!!). It's fun to have the variety as well as having the memories of swapping with friends.

Two more of my quilt tops are listed on eBay. This one is a UFO, but I am including the pattern, which sports an applique border. It's Tiddly Winks by Anka's Treasures.



This next top is finished. It is called Hoosier Stars. I love this pattern, but, alas, some things must go. Makes me sad, like mailing off one of my children. That might seem overly dramatic to you non-quilters, but I know there are people out there that can relate! Right??


I am working up to a serious decluttering of my home. That was not a typo. I worked on the sewing room today, and it's much better already. I am stifled by our stuff. Between having 8 children, home schooling, cooking most stuff from scratch, and piecing quilts, my house is an ongoing mess in progress. The messy build-up is reaching epidemic proportions. Wish me luck.

If I had the guts, I'd take before and after shots. But that might be too depressing! I might do it anyway, just for posterity.

~Joan

Elisabeth and Her Valentine's Banquet Date

What a handsome couple. They were on their way to the college Valentine Banquet and concert. Hope he has her home before midnight!!

Oh, and there's *me* in the bottom of the right window, taking the picture!!

~Joan